CHW 3M 2013: Cicero and Rome

Before we consider one of the truly great Romans, let’s quickly review what we know:

the Romans borrowed from Etruscan culture to create their own society

in Rome, fathers were paramount

despite being a metropolitan centre, Rome still remembered its origins. Little could be done without the work done by Roman farmers.

Rome was governed by a very specific set of laws called the Twelve Tables.

A few more details:

Rome began as a Republic, meaning that it worked on principles similar to Athens. While not fully democratic, the Roman Republic was governed by elected officials in the Senate.

Rome, however, was far from peaceful. Ambitious men attempted to seize power for themselves; one such man, Sulla, was Cicero’s contemporary.

One of the Republic’s greatest citizens was a writer and lawyer named Marcus Tullius Cicero, commonly known as Cicero. He lived during the final years of the Republic, and witnessed a Civil War, the dominance of Sulla, and the rise of his rival, Julius Caesar.

Today, you watch a re-enactment of his first major trial, which brought him fame and glory. As you watch, consider the nature of justice in the Republic; is every citizen equally served and protected by the law?